Athlete of the Week: Dalton Macri

Dalton Marci

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Name: Dalton Macri

School: Canon-McMillan

Year: Junior

Spot: Wrestling

Weight Class: 126

Macri’s Week: Macri began the week with a technical fall over Ringgold’s Aaron McConville in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA Team Tournament. He ended the week with a pin of Don Turner that gave the Big Macs an unprecedented fourth consecutive Class AAA team tournament title in a 31-26 victory over Franklin Regional at Chartiers Valley.

In between, he pinned John Keyser of Hampton in a 46-28 quarterfinal victory and won by forfeit in a 36-24 semifinal triumph over Kiski.

Coming to the rescue: Macri said he was “excited” and “relieved” to wrestle in such big matches as the one against Turner. The four wins put his record at 31-5 and he is rated second behind Sam Krivus of Hempfield in the last Observer-Reporter Wrestling Rankings.

Macri finished third at 126 in the prestigious Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament, second in the Reno Tournament of Champions and placed fifth in the Ironman Tournament at Walsh Jesuit High School in Ohio.

The pin over Turner was special.

“This one had my adrenaline pumping,” he said. “It’s a great feeling.”

Waiting his turn: Macri did not wrestle in the team tournament two years ago because Colton Shorts and Connor Schram dropped a weight, pushing Macri out of the lineup.

It was a disappointment to miss the postseason, but he understood.

“My freshman year didn’t go the way I planned,” said Macri. “But everything happens for a reason. I look at things differently now. I know that there is always someone out there who can beat you. That’s why winning this year is more satisfying.”

Preparation: Macri knows he is one of the wrestlers the Big Macs depend on for bonus points in dual meets, especially with injuries to Solomon Chishko, Malachi Krenzelak and William Pihiou through the middle of the lineup. He welcomes the responsibility that goes with those expectations.

“Every day, I try to get better,” he said. “Every day, I try to help someone (in the wrestling room).”

Canon-McMillan will attempt to defend its PIAA Team Tournament title this weekend. One month from now, the Big Macs will return to the Giant Center in Hershey for the PIAA Individual Championships. Canon-McMillan is the two-time defending team champion in that event.

“We’ve been setting records. Four WPIAL titles has never been done before,” said Macri. “It’s been a pretty memorable season.”